The BNY Mellon Boat Race is an English tradition, which pits two historic British institutions against each other: the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, eternal rivals.

Every year since 1829, the two cities have competed in a rowing competition on the Thames through London, between Putney Bridge and Chiswick Bridge (west London). Close to 200 000 spectators get together along the banks of the Thames to watch the annual race. Each team is made up of students from the two universities, and BNY Mellon Boat Race tradition has shown that the losing university defeats the winner the following year.